"If My People..."

INTRO

Yesterday, we looked at the dedication of the temple after it was completed by Solomon. The people and leaders came together and dedicated the temple in one voice. For a season, the people – all of the tribes of Israel – were united in one voice. Chapter 6 contains Solomon’s prayer at the dedication. Chapter 7 works through the ceremonies that took place during the dedication. The most recognized verse in 2 Chronicles comes from chapter 7: “And My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land” (v. 14). That’s where we’re headed in our study of chapter 7 (Luke 2:25.)

TEACHING

2 Chronicles 7:1-7: After Solomon’s prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the offering and sacrifices, and God’s glory filled the temple (v. 1). This was not the only time fire came from heaven (Leviticus 9:23-24; Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38). God can reveal Himself through fire and through our earnest prayers (James 5:16-18). Both Elijah and Solomon modeled how we should pray. This is important. There are layers of how to pray and what that looks like in 2 Chronicles 7:14. You and I have every right to come before the throne and pray like this.

God’s glory so filled (overflowed) the temple that the priests were unable to enter it (v. 2). All the Israelites who gathered saw the fire and God’s glory and they responded in homage (v. 3). The people responded with offerings, and Solomon offered 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep (vv. 4-5). Selman suggests that to accomplish this, an animal would have to have been sacrificed every three seconds for ten hours for 12 days.¹These were peace offerings (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-12; 1 Kings 8:62).

Solomon brought the Levites and their musical instruments, and the priests and their trumpets, into the celebration as well “for His faithful love endures forever” (v. 6). That phrase, “for His faithful love endures forever,” is the reason behind 1 and 2 Chronicles. No matter what the returning exiles had to face, they could be assured God’s faithful love endures forever. There were so many sacrifices the altar couldn’t handle it, so Solomon consecrated the courtyard to use as a place of offerings and sacrifices (v. 7).

2 Chronicles 7:8-11: All Israel, from the northern borders of Hamath to the southern borders at the Brook of Egypt, worshipped together for seven days (v. 8). The Feast of the Tabernacles had lasted seven days, and the dedication of the temple lasted seven days. On the eighth day, the Israelites held a sacred assembly to dedicate the altar, and then the people were sent back to their tents (homes), “Rejoicing and with happy hearts for the goodness the Lord had done for David, for Solomon, and for the people of Israel” (vv. 9-10). Solomon finished the temple and the royal palace, which took 22 years to accomplish (v. 11). This verse places the timing of all this as about halfway through Solomon’s reign.

2 Chronicles 7:12-22: After all this was completed, the Lord “appeared” to Solomon because He had heard Solomon’s prayers (v. 12). Was the appearance through an angel, in a dream, in a vision? This was important for those coming out of exile to be reminded God chose to dwell in the temple in this place (vv. 12-13). God emphasized His power over all the earth and then reminded the Israelites of the conditions of His covenant with them—they were to pray and seek Him and to turn away from their evil ways (v. 14).

This verse was a catalyst for revival for the people of Israel to turn to the Lord (Daniel 9:3-19). Was it meant for the United States? No. But, we can take these conditions and principles and apply them to our own lives. Israel is in the covenant relationship with God, America is not. It makes all the difference.

In verses 15-18, God confirms His covenant with the generations of Israel, a Royal Throne that had been established to reign forever. God called them to live as He instructed in verse 14. However, God promised that if Israel did not live that way, if they turned away from Him again, He would uproot the people, destroy the temple, and banish the people (vv. 19-22). Remember that this was exactly what had happened to Israel when they were exiled to Babylon.

CLOSING

Verse 14 was given as the antidote for the people returning from exile. They could choose to walk in God’s ways, or they could face what had happened to Israel when the Babylonian banishment had taken place. Walter C. Kaiser Jr., identifies four conditions for revival to take place that are presented in 2 Chronicles 7:14²:

• If My people humble themselves: God’s people are called to be humble and to deny themselves, just as Jesus was humble and died Himself on our behalf (Matthew 16:24; Philippians 2:8).
• If My people will pray: God’s people are to intercede with God through prayer (1 Samuel 12:23). We participate with God through prayer—through petition, communion, and intercession—in the conflict between Him and Satan. God gives us weapons for the battle––the sword of the Spirit and the power of prayers of intercession (Ephesians 6:17-18).
• If My people will seek My face: Seeking God’s “face” is searching for “the joy and benefits that come from experiencing his presence, his approval, and his communion with the likes of humanity.”3 We seek His face by drawing near to Him, by knowing Him, and by experiencing Him.
• If My people will turn from their wicked ways: God’s people must turn away from the sin in their lives and repent.

Ephesians 4:27 says not to give Satan a foothold in our lives. If we do these things, Satan cannot get a foothold in our lives. We have only to look to God in the process.